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Pittsburgh Steelers: Toughest schedule in NFL favors Super Bowl run?

By Brian Spaen

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Coming into 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have the toughest schedule in the NFL. As crazy as it sounds, that could be the reason why they win the next Super Bowl.

According to the NFL strength of schedule based on 2014 records, the Steelers have the toughest road to hoe. The overall record of all 16 opponents combined is 147-107-2. How in the world does one team have to face a combined winning percentage of .579?

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The Steelers just found themselves in the perfect scenario. The AFC North was the best overall division in the conference by a mile. Cleveland was the only team with a losing record, and that was just at 7-9. Everyone else finished at 10-6 or higher.

In conference, they’ll be facing the AFC West. Again, three of those teams are above-average to great, and the division tied the AFC East in second-best overall wins by division (33). Because Pittsburgh won the AFC North, they’ll also be facing the other division winners — New England and Indianapolis.

The biggest caveat in the schedule is having to face the NFC West. That’s generally why the entire AFC North is in the top 11 in strength of schedule. Cincinnati is right behind Pittsburgh at second, Cleveland sits at ninth, and Baltimore the last at 11th.

Is strength of schedule a big deal? The Oakland Raiders were projected to have the toughest schedule last year and ultimately did based on final records from last season. The AFC West also faced the NFC West last year. Granted, the Raiders could end up 3-13 if they went through the SEC.

Kidding aside, another reason SOS matters is that last season, just four of the 12 teams that made the playoffs had a strength of schedule over the .500 mark. It’s simply logic; the easier the strength of schedule is, the better a team’s shot is at making the postseason.

Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers fan yells from the stands during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

So, yes, Pittsburgh is in for a demanding next season with a tough opponent nearly every week. However, here’s the interesting nugget in all of this. The last time the Steelers had the toughest schedule in the NFL, they won it all.

That year was 2008, when Pittsburgh stormed into Super Bowl XLIII and defeated the Arizona Cardinals.

"The Steelers entered the season as defending champions of the AFC North Division, coming off a 10–6 record in 2007. Based on the previous season’s results, the team faced the most difficult schedule in over 30 years; however, they were called Super Bowl contenders by ESPN."

Add this to the irony. Pittsburgh lost during Wild Card weekend at home in the 2007 season just like they did last season. It was a 31-29 defeat at Heinz Field to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, back when the Jaguars actually contented for a postseason berth and even won games during them.

Despite history, this would be quite a feat for the Steelers to repeat. The schedule is extremely brutal in having to face the league’s best teams and really only getting a break hosting Oakland. They potentially have to face the AFC’s toughest division twice, their conference division winners, and the opposing NFC’s best division.

Still, them overcoming the odds eight years ago should help Pittsburgh fans keep from getting sour over the difficult 2015 ahead.

Next: Pittsburgh Steelers in line to repeat as AFC North champs

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